Chocolate Dipped Valentine Cookies

Nothing says “I love you” or “I value your friendship” like something homemade and delicious! Why not whip up a batch of these luscious cookies and brighten someone’s day?!

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 egg

1 teaspoon almond extract

1/2 cup vanilla Greek yogurt (not light)

1 cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

3 1/4 cup flour

For decorating:

12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips -or- white chocolate chips

Assorted sprinkles

Red food coloring (optional)

Directions

Step 1) Cream together butter and sugar.  Add egg, almond extract, and yogurt. Mix well.

Step 2) Add flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.  Mix by hand; dough will be stiff.

Step 3) Chill dough for at least one hour before rolling 1/3 inch thick on a floured surface.  Cut dough into heart shapes, and carefully transfer to baking sheets line with parchment paper.

Step 4) Bake in preheated 375 degree oven for 8 – 10 minutes, until edges begin to brown.  Cool on a wire rack.

Step 5) While cookies are cooling, melt chocolate in a glass bowl in the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds. Do not overheat! Chocolate should be just barely melted – you should need to stir the chocolate to get the last few pieces to melt. If you are using white chocolate, stir in a drop or two of red food coloring to tint the chocolate pink (optional).

Step 6) Holding each cookie so that the top side of the cookie is facing the chocolate, dip one side of the top of each cookie in chocolate. The idea is to get most of the chocolate on the top side, and very little (if any) on the bottom.

Step 7) Immediately sprinkle a few decorations onto each cookie after it is dipped. Set cookies on a wire rack until the chocolate sets.

Happy Valentine’s Day!